Accepting the award he paid tribute to director Steven Spielberg whom he called ‘a humble master, with a quicksilver imagination.’

Spielberg has donated gloves, a knife and other items from the Lincoln film blockbuster which will be auctioned in Dublin in aid of the project to build a new Wicklow hospice.

The memorabilia includes Lincoln’s handmade knife, white gloves and miniature soldiers from the production.
The Irish Examiner reports that Spielberg made the items available as a favor to his close friend Day-Lewis, a patron of Wicklow Hospice Foundation.

The paper says that Day-Lewis has donated the items to be auctioned at the only European premiere to raise funds towards building the hospice near Dublin, where he lives when not filming.

Foundation chairman Brendan Cuddihy told the Irish Examiner that the charity has been overwhelmed by interest from the US.

He said: “Props of this quality never come on the market and are closely protected by movie studios.

“Now that Lincoln is hotly tipped to scoop multi-Academy awards, we’re being told the value is even higher.”

Spielberg, Day-Lewis and a host of Irish celebrities including President Michael D Higgins will attend the premiere at the Savoy cinema.

U2’s Bono and the Edge, singers Sinead O’Connor and Shane McGowan, Chris De Burgh and boxers Katie Taylor and Barry McGuigan are on the guest list.